Harris County Jury Awards $46,380 in Uninsured Motorist Claim
One driver was traveling west on a road when another driver attempted a left turn and broadsided the first vehicle. The first driver claimed injuries and sued the other driver and their insurance company. The trial focused on damages, as the other driver's negligence was admitted. The injured driver sought compensation for medical expenses, pain, and suffering.
Case Information Updated: October 2025
About Cervical Disc Injury Injuries
Cervical disc injuries involve damage to the intervertebral discs in the neck region (C1-C7). These injuries can include herniated discs, bulging discs, and disc degeneration accelerated by trauma.
Case Outcome
- Outcome
- Verdict-Plaintiff
- Amount
- $46,380
- County
- Dallas County, TX
- Resolved
- 2019
Injury & Accident Details
- Injury Type
- Cervical Disc Injury
- Accident Type
- T-bone
- Case Type
- Motor Vehicle Negligence
Settlement Context
This verdict-plaintiff of $46,380 is near the median of $40,000 for cervical disc injury cases resolved by verdict-plaintiff. The typical range is $18,000 to $100,000, based on 250 cases in our database.
Case Overview
On August 30, 2016, a 50-year-old machine operator was driving a pickup truck west on West Little York Road in Houston when an uninsured motorist, traveling east, attempted a left turn on a red light. The plaintiff's vehicle broadsided the turning car, and the plaintiff claimed to have sustained injuries.
The plaintiff filed a lawsuit against the uninsured motorist, alleging negligence, and against her own insurer, Allstate Indemnity Co., for uninsured motorist benefits. While the uninsured motorist entered an appearance, he did not attend the trial. The insurer stipulated that the uninsured motorist's negligence proximately caused the accident, and the trial proceeded solely on damages.
The plaintiff claimed several injuries, including cervical, thoracic, lumbar, shoulder, and knee sprains, later asserting multiple disc herniations and protrusions, and an anterior cruciate ligament sprain. The plaintiff sought damages for past medical expenses totaling $36,380.48, and $10,000 for past physical pain and mental anguish, along with unspecified future damages. The defense disputed the causation of the claimed injuries and the reasonableness and necessity of the medical charges and treatments. Defense counsel argued that certain MRIs and an epidural injection were medically unnecessary and excessively priced. The defense also highlighted the plaintiff's prior lower back injuries and a 2.5-year gap in treatment before the trial.
After a two-day trial in Harris County, a jury deliberated for 1.5 hours and returned a unanimous verdict, awarding the plaintiff $46,380.48.
Understanding This Case
- Many cervical disc injuries improve with conservative treatment. However, about 30% of cases may require surgical intervention, with varying degrees of permanent impairment.
- This case went to trial and resulted in a jury verdict. Verdicts can yield higher awards but carry the risk of receiving nothing if the jury rules against the plaintiff.
- This case was resolved in Dallas County, Texas. Local jury tendencies, judge assignments, and regional economic conditions all influence case outcomes in this jurisdiction.
- Resolved in 2019, this case reflects the legal and economic conditions of that period, including medical costs, insurance practices, and jury award trends at the time.
VerdictlyTM Score
This outcome aligns very well with similar cases
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